U.S. patent number 4,715,401 [Application Number 06/947,650] was granted by the patent office on 1987-12-29 for hose storage access means for shipment of appliance.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Whirlpool Corporation. Invention is credited to Dean R. Sommerfeld, Paul R. Staun, Robert M. Weir.
United States Patent |
4,715,401 |
Staun , et al. |
December 29, 1987 |
Hose storage access means for shipment of appliance
Abstract
A hose retainer is provided for removably securing hoses within
a cabinet of the appliance. The retainer includes a hook for
securing the apparatus to a structure inside the appliance, a slit
for receiving an end of a hose, and in one embodiment at least one
aperture for receiving an end of a second hose. In a second
embodiment the apparatus includes an arm and projection for
securing an end of the second hose. The appliance includes access
ports for affording access to a portion of the hoses while they are
in their stored position and further includes an electrical plug
storage aperture for holding the electrical cord in a stored, yet
accessible location during shipping.
Inventors: |
Staun; Paul R. (St. Joseph
Township, Berrien County, MI), Weir; Robert M. (St. Joseph,
MI), Sommerfeld; Dean R. (Green Springs, OH) |
Assignee: |
Whirlpool Corporation (Benton
Harbor, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
25486494 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/947,650 |
Filed: |
December 30, 1986 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/355.17;
137/374; 248/68.1; 248/74.2; 248/75; 248/317 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F
39/001 (20130101); D06F 39/12 (20130101); Y10T
137/6921 (20150401); Y10T 137/7032 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
D06F
39/12 (20060101); D06F 39/00 (20060101); A62C
035/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;137/374,355.16,355.17,899 ;248/68.1,74.2,312,317 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Chambers; A. Michael
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hill, Van Santen, Steadman &
Simpson
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A cabinet for an appliance wherein the appliance has at least
one hose with a free end to be attached to a conduit external of
the cabinet, and the hose is stored internally of the cabinet
during assembly and shipping of the appliance, comprising:
an access port through said cabinet providing access to at least a
portion of said hose;
connecting means mounted onto an interior portion of said cabinet
adjacent to said access port for attaching a fixed end of said hose
to said appliance said fixed end of said hose attached to said
connecting means, the free end of said hose being stored internally
of said cabinet inaccessible from said port;
whereby selective removal of said free end of said hose from within
said cabinet may be effected by grasping said accessible portion of
said hose.
2. A cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said port is disposed so
that a portion of said hose is always visible and accessible
through said port.
3. A cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means
further includes a back-up plate located on a side of said hose
opposite from said access port thereby allowing said hose to be
accessed, but providing a contiguous structure to said cabinet.
4. A cabinet according to claim 3, wherein said hose is attached to
said appliance by said connecting means comprising a valve
assembly, said backup plate being secured to said valve assembly,
and both being in turn secured to said cabinet.
5. A cabinet according to claim 3 wherein said back-up plate has an
opening therein through which said hose passes.
6. A cabinet according to claim 5, wherein said opening in said
back-up plate is provided with a grommet to provide a smooth
surface over which the hose may be moved.
7. A cabinet according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of hoses are
utilized by said appliance each of said hoses being accessible
through said access port.
8. A cabinet according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of access
ports are provided for accessing various ones of said plurality of
hoses.
9. A cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said appliance also
includes an electrical cord with a plug on the end thereof and
apertures are provided on a back portion of said appliance cabinet
for receipt of said plug.
10. In an automatic washer having two water inlet hoses fixed to
said washer at a first end and having a free second end and a drain
hose also fixed to said washer at a first end and having a free
second end, for admitting and discharging wash fluid within said
washer, and a cabinet enclosing said washer, a storage means for
said hoses comprising:
access openings through said cabinet forming recessed areas in
which said fixed end and an adjacent portion of said hoses are
located during storage of said hoses interior of said cabinet, said
free ends being positioned interior of said cabinet and being
inaccessible from the exterior, said access openings thus providing
access to said hoses from the exterior of said cabinet.
11. A storage means according to claim 10 further including a
back-up plate forming a back wall of each of said recessed areas
opposite from said access opening, said hoses being positioned
between said access opening and said back-up plate thereby allowing
said hoses to be accessed for removal from within said cabinet but
providing a contiguous structure to said cabinet.
12. A storage means according to claim 11, wherein said inlet hoses
are fixed to said washer by means of a valve assembly, said back-up
plate being secured to said valve assembly, and both being in turn
secured to said cabinet; said drain hose being fixed to said washer
by means of a connector which passes through said back-up plate,
said back-up plate having an additional opening therein for passage
of said drain hose into the interior of said cabinet.
13. A storage means according to claim 12, wherein said additional
opening in said back-up plate is provided with a grommet to provide
a smooth surface over which the drain hose may be moved.
14. A storage means according to claim 10, wherein said washer also
includes an electrical cord with a plug on the end thereof and
apertures are provided on a back portion of said cabinet for
receipt of said plug.
15. An automatic washing machine comprising:
an exterior cabinet;
two water inlet hoses at a first end to said washing machine, each
having a free end attachable to a water supply conduit;
a drain hose attached at a first end to said washing machine and
having a free end attachable to a drain conduit;
said cabinet having recessed areas therein;
said first ends being attached to said washing machine in said
recessed areas of said cabinet;
said recessed areas having openings into the interior of said
cabinet;
said free ends being stored internally of said cabinet and being
inaccessible from the exterior thereof;
whereby, said hoses may be stored interior of said cabinet during
assembly and shipping while being accessible from exterior of said
cabinet at said recessed areas for removal of said free ends of
said hoses from said cabinet.
16. An automatic washing machine according to claim 15, wherein
said washing machine also includes an electrical cord with a plug
on the end thereof and apertures being provided on a back portion
of said cabinet for receipt of said plug.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hose storage means particularly
adapted for use in an appliance such as an automatic washing
machine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Home appliances such as, for example, an automatic washing machine,
are provided with hoses that connect the appliance to a water
source, such as a hot and cold water line, and a discharge line for
discharging the water used by the appliance. For example, an
automatic washing machine typically includes two inlet hoses, one
for cold water and one for hot water, and a drain hose for
discharging the water used to wash and rinse. Once the appliance is
located in the home of the consumer, it is necessary for a
serviceperson or the consumer to access the hoses so that the
appliance can be set up for operation. However, these hoses
typically are stored somewhere within the appliance so that they
are not damaged during shipment of the appliance. Accordingly, the
method of storing the hoses must be tempered with the need of
access to the hoses so that the hoses can be attached to the inlets
for the hot and cold water and to insure that the drain hose is
situated in a suitable drain.
Usually, the hoses are loosely located within the appliance. For
example, it is known to roll up and locate the hoses in the tub of
the automatic washer for shipment of the appliance to the consumer.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,880,188 discloses a hose retractor for a portable
appliance. As disclosed, the hoses are normally stored within the
cabinet when the appliance is not in use and pulled out for
connection to a sink faucet. A hose retracting device facilitates
retraction and storage of the hoses in the cabinet.
It would be advantageous to have an appliance that includes means
for securing the hoses within the appliance yet provides a means
for allowing easy access to the hoses to make the appliance
operational.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an appliance that includes an
apparatus that allows the drain hose and the inlet water hoses to
be factory installed within the cabinet of the appliance. The
appliance further includes access ports for selectively accessing
the hoses.
An apparatus provided for removably securing the hoses within the
cabinet of the appliance includes a hose retainer member having a
hook portion for securing the apparatus to an internal portion of
the appliance, as well as a slit for removably receiving a portion
of a hose, for example the drain hose, and means for securing at
least a second hose, for example, the inlet hose.
The means for securing the second hose may include at least one
aperture that preferably includes projections that define a
collar.
In another embodiment, the means for securing a second hose
includes at least one arm having at the end thereof a slitted
deformable projection sized and shaped to be received within an
opening in the hose.
The appliance includes a cabinet having access ports for allowing
access to corresponding portions of the drain hose and the inlet
hoses. The cabinet also includes means for securing an electrical
plug to the cabinet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the appliance of the
present invention with parts broken away including the apparatus
for securing the hoses within the appliance.
FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevational view of the appliance of FIG.
1 with parts broken away.
FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a hose retainer for securing
the hoses within the appliance.
FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a hose retainer for
securing the hoses within the appliance.
FIG. 5 illustrates a back elevational view of a portion of the
appliance of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the appliance taken
along lines VI--VI of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the appliance taken
along lines VII--VII of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
While the present invention provides a means for storing and
accessing hoses within any appliance affording such utilitarian
connection, the invention is particularly useful for providing an
apparatus for effecting factory installation of hoses in a stored
position in an automatic washing machine which are selectively
retrievable at the place of utilization. Referring to FIG. 1, an
exemplary automatic washing machine is shown at 10 utilizing a hose
retainer 12 for removably securing hoses of the present
invention.
The automatic washing machine 10 includes a tub 14 that has a
clothes container or spin basket 15 in which an agitator 16 is
centrally disposed. Circumscribing the top of the tub 14 is a
retaining ring 41 that includes downwardly projecting flanges 42.
The flange 42 provides a means to which the apparatus 12 for
removably securing hoses may be attached. The tub 14, spin basket
15, and agitator 16 along with the drive mechanism are enclosed in
a cabinet 20.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the automatic washing machine 10
includes a drain hose 22 and inlet hoses 24 and 26. The inlet hoses
24 and 26 are designed to be secured by the user to the usual
domestic supply, i.e. an inlet water source such as a water faucet.
The two inlet water hoses 24 and 26 are designed so that one hose
can be connected to a cold water source and the other hose can be
connected to a hot water source. The drain hose 22 is connected to
a pump 28 that functions to pump the water contained within the tub
14 out of the tub and through the drain hose 22 for discharge to a
drain, for example, within a basin, laundry tub, pipe drain or
other means for allowing the disposal of the liquid drained from
the tub 14.
In order to store hoses 22, 24, and 26 against possible damage to
the hose and to the appliance 10 due to the hose being snagged or
caught as the washing machine 10 is transported, it is desirable
when the washing machines 10 are being constructed to store the
hoses 22, 24, and 26 for relative safekeeping.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 two embodiments of a retainer apparatus
or a hose retainer 12 for securing the hoses 22, 24, and 26 within
the cabinet 20 of the washing machine 10 are illustrated.
Referring specifically to FIG. 3, the base retainer 12 includes a
part having two apertures 30 and 32 that are designed to receive an
end 34 and 36 of the hoses 24 and 26 respectively. The base
retainer is an elongated sheet-form plastic member having end edges
12A and 12B and joined by a straight longitudinal edge 12C. The end
adjacent the edge 12B is enlarged, i.e., it has a longitudinal edge
12D parallel to the edge 12C, thereby to form an enlarged area 12E
sufficiently large to accommodate the formation of two hose
apertures 30 and 32.
At the end 12a of the hose retainer 12, the sheet-form member is
much narrower and has a longitudinal edge 12F which proceeds
parallel to the edge 12C until it reaches an offset or lug 12G, at
which point the offset or lug 12G is formed at reentrant angle 12H.
The sheet-form body of the hose retainer 12 is slit at the angle of
the hose retainer 12H as at 60 and the slit 60 is itself angled
inwardly to terminate at a perforation 60A provided to prevent
inadvertent tearing. There is thus formed a hook 60B by means of
which the hose retainer 12 may be suspended from the flange 42 that
extends downwardly from a ring 41 around the tub 14.
Preferably the apertures 30 and 32 include radial projections 31
that define a collar. Accordingly, in the embodiment illustrated,
the apertures 30 and 32 have a star shaped construction wherein an
end of the hoses 24 and 26 is insertably received within the
apertures 30 and 32 and provides a collar for retaining the
inserted ends 34 and 36 of the hoses. The hose retainer 12 also
includes a longitudinal slit 38 terminating in openings 38A and 38B
that is designed to receive an end portion 40 of the drain hose 22
in an interference fit relationship. The construction of the slit
38 allows the end 40 of the drain hose 22 to be removably retained
therein. The longitudinal edge portion 12F and 12D are completed by
an angled edge portion 121 and 12J as shown in FIG. 3.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of the retainer
apparatus or hose retainer 112 for securing the hoses 22, 24, and
26 is illustrated. Like reference numerals increased by 100 will be
used where appropriate. Similarly to the previous embodiment, the
apparatus 112 includes a longitudinal slit 138 for receiving a
portion 40 of the drain hose 22. Again, the slit 138 is constructed
so that it will receive an end portion 40 of the drain hose 22. The
apparatus 112 also includes arm members 150 and 151 that include
circular projections 152 and 154 respectively sized and shaped to
be received within apertures in the hoses 24 and 26. To this end,
the circular projections 152 and 154 have a circumference that is
substantially equal to the internal circumference of the ends 34
and 36 of the hoses. The circular projections 152 and 154 include
slits 156 and 158 respectively that allow the circular projections
152 and 154 to be deformed so that their circumference can be
reduced allowing them to be received within the openings of the
hoses 24 and 26. Thus, the embodiment of retainer 112 is the
inversion of the embodiment 12 and demonstrates how the inventive
concept is utilized in both male and female species. The apparatus
112 also includes a hook 160B that is defined by a slit 160 in the
base retainer 112. The hook 160B is deisgned to be received within
the flange 42 so that the apparatus 112 can be secured to the tub
12.
The retainer apparatus 12 or 112 for removably securing the hoses
22, 24, and 26 is preferably constructed from a plastic material
which is fairly rigid in that it is self-sustaining and exhibits
good memory, but is also resiliently flexible, for example, high
density polyethylene although other flexible materials known in the
art may also be used.
Because the apparatus 12 or 112 is constructed from a flexible
material, the hoses may be selectively pulled out of the cabinet
20. To this end, the apparatus 12 of 112 is constructed so that the
hook member 60B or 160B will not readily tear away from the
remaining portions of the hose retainer 12 or 112 or from the
flange 42, but in response to a deliberate operator induced tearing
action, the retainers 12 and 112 are frangible. Furthermore, while
the end 40 of the drain hose 22 is normally retained in place, it
can be pulled out of the slit 38 or 138 by a deliberate operator
induced action. The inlet hoses 24 and 26 may remain secured to the
hose retainer 12 or 112 but because the apparatus will not longer
be secured to an internal structure in the cabinet the end user can
remove the retaining apparatus 12 or 112 once the hoses 24 and 26
are pulled out of the appliance 10.
Referring now to FIG. 5, the automatic washing machine 10, and
specifically the cabinet 20, includes access ports 65 and 67. The
access ports 65 and 67 provide access to at least a portion of the
hoses 22, 24, and 26 in order to afford selective removal of the
hoses 22, 24, and 26 from the cabinet 20.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first access port 65 is disposed so
that a portion 24' and 26' of the inlet hoses 24 and 26 is always
visible and accessible through the opening 65. Preferably, the
cabinet 20 includes a back-up plate 69 that is located behind the
hoses 24 and 26 and thereby allows the hoses to be accessed but
provides a contiguous structure to the cabinet 20 of the washing
machine 10. The back-up plate 69 or bracket is secured to the inlet
valve assembly 70 and both are in turn secured to the cabinet
20.
In the storage position the hoses are disposed as illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2. To remove an end 34 and 36 of the inlet hoses so
that they can be made operational, the portion of the hoses 24' and
26' accessible through the access port 65 is pulled outwardly
causing the hoses 22 and 24 either to disengage the apparatus 12 or
the apparatus 112 as the case may be, or the apparatus 12 is pulled
away from the flange 42 of the tub 14. The hoses 24 and 26 are
pulled until the ends 34 and 36 of the hoses 22 are pulled out from
the access port 65. If the apparatus 12 is still secured to the
ends 34 and 36 of the hoses 24 and 26, it can be easily removed.
The free ends 34 and 36 of the inlet hoses 24 and 26 are then
attached to the inlet water source.
FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the second access port
67 that allows access to the drain hose 22. Again, the cabinet 20
includes a back-up plate 74 that is located between the drain hose
22 and the access port 67 providing a continuation of the cabinet
20 and forming a bracket that is secured to the cabinet 20. A
grommet 76 is utilized around an opening 77 in the bracket to
provide a smooth surface over which the drain hose 22 is pulled or
pushed.
A portion of the drain hose 22' is pulled so that the end 40 of the
drain hose exits the slit 138 of 38, is pulled through the access
port 67 and is connected to a connector 71.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the apparatus 10 also provides a means
for storing the electrical cord 73 and plug 75. To this end, the
plug 75 of the electrical cord 73 is received within apertures (not
shown) on the back portion 79 of the apparatus 10. Accordingly, the
apparatus 10 provides an automatic washing machine 10 wherein the
cord 73 and plug 75, and necessary hoses 22, 24 and 26 are all
safely stored for shipment yet provides an easy means for allowing
selective access.
As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention is
susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and
modifications with may differ particularly from those that have
been described in the preceding specification and description. It
should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the
patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and
properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.
* * * * *